HOUSTON -- Yao Mings American agent would not confirm reports that the Houston Rockets all-star centre is retiring, saying Yao has scheduled a July 20 news conference in Shanghai to reveal his plans. John Huizinga said Saturday night that he was "not in a position" to say whether Yao had informed the NBA that he planned to retire. "Im not in a position to do that," Yaos agent said in a phone interview. "Hes going to have a press conference on July 20. What that says is thats the time Yao is going to make a statement, and I dont think its appropriate for me to say anything before he does." Yahoo! Sports first reported Yaos intention to retire. Neither the Rockets nor the NBA could comment on the reports because of the lockout. The 7-foot-6 Yao has been plagued by leg and foot injuries late in his career, and missed 250 regular-season games over the past six seasons. He played in only five games last season, before sustaining a stress fracture in his left ankle. Yao was hoping to return to Houston, even though his contract expired after last season. He also acknowledged earlier this year that injuries may force him into retirement. Huizinga would not say what Yao was going to reveal on July 20, only that Yao "is entitled to make his statement on his own terms, at his own time." "Its not that I worry about getting in trouble," Huizinga said. "I just think Yao has the right to do this in the way he wants to do it. That applies all kinds of things I think he has the right to. I just want him to be able to handle this the way he wants." Word of Yaos retirement triggered a frenzy in China. Thousands of fans flooded online forums on Saturday reacting to the news. One wrote: "Hes Chinas top athlete ... its a pity to lose such a sports icon." Chinas most popular online portals, sina.com and sohu.com, headlined the news of Yaos possible retirement prominently on their homepages. An eight-time all-star, Yao has averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds in eight seasons. He also became a global icon, connecting the NBA to China and across Asia. Huizinga understands the intense interest in Yaos plans, but also said Yao deserves the right to control how theyre revealed. "The guy has worked very hard, hes put up with a lot, carried a lot of burden for a lot of people," Huizinga said. "I think he would like to run this part of his life the way hed like to run it. I understand other people dont feel that way. I dont like it, but Im not going to be able to change it." cheap jerseys from china . LOUIS -- While taking down the San Francisco Giants bullpen, the St. jerseys from china . Chicago needs a point this afternoon in its finale versus the Detroit Red Wings if it wants a shot at repeating. You can see all the action on TSN at 12:30pm et/9:30am pt. http://www.cheapchinajerseynfl.us.co... .C. -- Eli Manning didnt need a fourth-quarter comeback Thursday night. [url=http://www.cheapchinajerseynfl.us.com/]wholesale jerseys . The Canadiens have recorded recent home wins over Winnipeg and Pittsburgh, but the club hasnt notched three victories in a row since a season-high four-game run from Oct. 26-Nov. wholesale nfl jerseys . Rory McIlroy wants to be the second. McIlroy drilled a brilliant bunker shot on the last hole a year ago to win the title by two strokes, becoming the tournaments youngest winner at 22 after being runner-up in 2008 and 2009.SAN FRANCISCO -- Free agent left-hander Javier Lopez has reached agreement on a $13 million, three-year contract to stay with the San Francisco Giants. The deal is pending a physical, likely to take place next week, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said Thursday. The 36-year-old Lopez went 4-2 with a 1.83 ERA in 69 appearances and 39 1-3 innings this year, when the Giants missed thhe playoffs one season after winning their second World Series in three seasons.dddddddddddd San Francisco acquired Lopez at the 2010 trade deadline from Pittsburgh for John Bowker and Joe Martinez, and Lopez emerged as a reliable option for manager Bruce Bochy as the club made an improbable run to the citys first World Series championship since moving West in 1958. cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '